DNA Profiling

(DNA fingerprinting)

What is DNA Profiling?

A technique used by scientists to

distinguish between individuals of
the same species using only samples
of their DNA

Who Invented it?

The process of DNA

fingerprinting was
invented by Alec
Jeffreys at the
University of
Leicester in 1985.

He was knighted in
1994.

Stages of DNA Profiling

Stage 1:
Cells are broken down
to release DNA

If only a small amount

of DNA is available it
can be amplified using
the polymerase chain
reaction (PCR)

Stages of DNA Profiling

Step 2:
The DNA is cut into fragments using restriction
enzymes.

Each restriction enzyme cuts DNA at a specific base

sequence.

Stages of DNA Profiling

The

sections of DNA that are cut out

are called restriction fragments.

This

yields thousands of restriction

fragments of all different sizes
because the base sequences being
cut may be far apart (long fragment)
or close together (short fragment).

Stages of DNA Profiling

Stage 3:
Fragments are
separated on the
basis of size using
a process called gel
electrophoresis.
DNA fragments are
injected into wells
and an electric
current is applied
along the gel.

Stages of DNA Profiling

DNA is negatively
charged so it is
attracted to the
positive end of the
gel.
The shorter DNA
fragments move
faster than the
longer fragments.
DNA is separated on
basis of size.

Stages of DNA Profiling

A radioactive
material is added
which combines
with the DNA
fragments to
produce a
fluorescent image.
A photographic
copy of the DNA
bands is obtained.

Stages of DNA Profiling

Stage 4:
The pattern of fragment distribution
is then analysed.

Uses of DNA Profiling

DNA

profiling is
used to solve
crimes and
medical
problems

Crime
Forensic

science is the use of

scientific knowledge in legal
situations.
The DNA profile of each individual is
highly specific.
The chances of two people having
exactly the same DNA profile is
30,000 million to 1 (except for
identical twins).

Biological materials used for DNA

profiling

Blood
Hair
Saliva
Semen
Body tissue cells
DNA samples have
been obtained from
vaginal cells
transferred to the
outside of a condom
during sexual
intercourse.

DNA Profiling can solve crimes

The pattern of the DNA profile is then
compared with those of the victim and the
suspect.
If the profile matches the suspect it
provides strong evidence that the suspect
was present at the crime scene (NB:it
does not prove they committed the
crime).
If the profile doesnt match the suspect
then that suspect may be eliminated from
the enquiry.

Example
A

violent murder occurred.

The forensics team retrieved a blood
sample from the crime scene.
They prepared DNA profiles of the
blood sample, the victim and a
suspect as follows:

Was the suspect at the crime

scene?
Suspects
Profile

Blood sample
from crime
scene

Victims
profile

Solving Medical Problems

DNA profiles can be used to determine
whether a particular person is the parent
of a child.
A childs paternity (father) and
maternity(mother) can be determined.
This information can be used in
Paternity suits
Inheritance cases
Immigration cases

Example: A Paternity Test

By

comparing the DNA profile of a

mother and her child it is possible to
identify DNA fragments in the child
which are absent from the mother and
must therefore have been inherited
from the biological father.

Is this man the father of the child?

Mother

Child

Man

Famous cases

In 2002 Elizabeth
Hurley used DNA
profiling to prove
that Steve Bing
was the father
of her child Damien

Famous Cases
Colin Pitchfork was
the first criminal
caught based on
DNA fingerprinting
evidence.
He was arrested in
1986 for the rape
and murder of two
girls and was
sentenced in 1988.

Famous Cases

O.J. Simpson was

cleared of a double
murder charge in
1994 which relied
heavily on DNA
evidence.

This case
highlighted lab
difficulties.

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